Document transfer device for multiple pass document sorting machine

Abstract

A document transfer system for receiving a cluster of stacked documents within the first end of an output holder and, by using movable partitions, advancing the clusters to the second end of the output holder, thereby permitting a next document cluster to be received within the output holder at the first end. A document cluster at the second end of the output holder is then, using extendable and retractable gates, transferred from the output holder to a separate holder for further processing.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A document transfer system for moving a cluster with a front and a back face of accumulated stacked documents from a receiving area at the first end of an output holder having first and second ends to the second end of the output holder and subsequently accepting a next cluster of stacked documents into the receiving area for transfer to the second end of the output holder, said system comprising: a) an output holder partition;   b) means for permitting movement of the output holder partition between the first and second ends of the output holder;   c) means for orienting the output holder partition in an extended orientation to contact the back face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder partition having an initial extended orientation at the output holder first end;   d) a sweeper partition;   e) means for moving the sweeper partition between the first end of the output holder to at least the second end of the output holder;   f) means for orienting the sweeper partition in an extended orientation to contact the front face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contacting the cluster, with the sweeper partition having an initial retracted orientation at the output holder first end and;   g) an output holder gate at the second end of the output holder to stop the document cluster when the cluster is moved to the output holder second end, whereby the sweeper partition, when a cluster has accumulated within the output holder first end, is oriented in an extended orientation and advanced to advance an accumulated document cluster in the output holder receiving area against the output holder partition which is in an extended orientation to the second end of the output holder, the output holder partition then is retracted and returned to the initial extended position, and a next cluster may be provided to the receiving area of the output holder; wherein the output holder partition and the output holder gate are mateably configured to permit the output holder partition in an extended orientation to pass the output holder gate unobstructed such that when the document cluster is advanced to the second end of the output holder by the sweeper, the output holder partition passes the output holder gate, the document cluster becomes captured between the sweeper partition and the output holder gate and the output holder partition passes the output holder gate, situates in the retracted orientation and returns to the extended orientation at the initial position.   
     
     
       2. The document transfer system as described in claim 1 wherein the output holder partition and the output holder gate are mateably configured through the partition and gate each having mateably configured interdigitated fingers. 
     
     
       3. The document transfer system as described in claim 1 further comprising means for biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end. 
     
     
       4. The document transfer system as described in claim 1, further comprising means for resiliently biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end. 
     
     
       5. The document transfer system as described in claim 1 wherein the means for permitting movement of the output holder partition comprises a shaft extending from the output holder first end to at least the output holder second end and a bearing set within the output holder partition mated with the shaft and wherein the means for moving the sweeper partition comprises a shaft extending from the output holder first end up to the output holder second end, a bearing set within the sweeper partition mated with the shaft and means for pulling the sweeper partition along the shaft. 
     
     
       6. The document transfer system as described in claim 5 wherein the output holder shaft is rectangular and the means for orienting the output holder partition is comprised of a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the shaft and wherein the sweeper shaft is rectangular and the means for orienting the sweeper partition is comprised of a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the sweeper partition shaft. 
     
     
       7. The document transfer system as described in claim 1 wherein the output holder partition and the output holder gate are mateably configured through the partition and gate each having mateably configured interdigitated fingers. 
     
     
       8. A document transfer system for moving a cluster with a front and a back face of accumulated stacked documents from a receiving area at the first end of an output holder having first and second ends to the second end of the output holder and subsequently accepting a next cluster of stacked documents into the receiving area for transfer to the second end of the output holder, said system comprising: a) an output holder partition, means for biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end;   b) means for permitting movement of the output holder partition between the first and second ends of the output holder comprising a rectangular shaft extending from the output holder first end to at least the output holder second end and a bearing set within the output holder partition mated with the shaft;   c) means for orienting the output holder partition in an extended orientation to contact the back face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder partition having an initial extended orientation at the output holder first end comprising a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the shaft;   d) a sweeper partition;   e) means for moving the sweeper partition between the first end of the output holder to at least the second end of the output holder comprising a rectangular shaft extending from the output holder first end up to the output holder second end, a bearing set within the sweeper partition mated with the shaft and means for pulling the sweeper partition along the shaft;   f) means for orienting the sweeper partition in an extended orientation to contact the front face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contacting the cluster, with the sweeper partition having an initial retracted orientation at the output holder first end comprising a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the sweeper partition shaft;   g) an output holder gate at the second end of the output holder to stop the document cluster when the cluster is moved to the output holder second end, said gate mateably configured with the output holder partition to permit the output holder partition in an extended orientation to pass the output holder gate unobstructed, such that the sweeper partition, when a cluster has accumulated within the output holder first end, is oriented in an extended orientation and advanced to advance an accumulated document cluster in the output holder receiving area against the extended output holder partition to the second end of the output holder, the output holder partition passes the output holder gate and then is retracted and returned to the initial extended position for processing a next cluster provided to the receiving area of the output holder.   
     
     
       9. A document transfer system for moving a cluster with a front and a back face of accumulated stacked documents from a receiving area at the first end of an output holder having first and second ends to a recirculation holder and subsequently accepting a next cluster of stacked documents into the receiving area for transfer to the recirculation holder, said system comprising: a) an output holder partition;   b) means for permitting movement of the output holder partition between the first and second ends of the output holder;   c) means for orienting the output holder partition in an extended orientation to contact the back face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder partition having an initial extended orientation at the output holder first end;   d) a sweeper partition;   e) means for moving the sweeper partition between the first end of the output holder to at least the second end of the output holder;   f) means for orienting the sweeper partition in an extended orientation to contact the front face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contacting the cluster with the sweeper partition having an initial retracted orientation at the output holder first end and;   g) an output holder gate at the second end of the output holder to stop the document cluster when the cluster is moved to the output holder second end;   h) means for orienting the output holder gate in an extended orientation to contact the front face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder gate having an initial extended orientation and;   i) a recirculation holder having a first and second end with the first end aligned and generally abutting the second end of the output holder; wherein the recirculation holder is further comprised of a recirculation holder gate at the first end of the recirculation holder and a recirculation holder partition movable between the first and second ends of the recirculation holder with an initial partition position at the recirculation holder first end.   
     
     
       10. The document transfer system as described in claim 9 further comprising means for orienting the recirculation holder gate in an extended orientation to contact the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder gate having an initial extended orientation. 
     
     
       11. The document transfer system as described in claim 10 wherein the output holder gate and the output holder partition are mateably configured to permit the output holder partition in an extended orientation to pass the extended output holder gate unobstructed. 
     
     
       12. The document transfer system as described in claim 11 wherein the sweeper partition and the recirculation holder gate are mateably configured to permit the extended sweeper partition to pass the extended recirculation holder gate unobstructed. 
     
     
       13. The document transfer system as described in claim 12 wherein the sweeper partition and the recirculation holder gate are mateably configured through the partition and gate each having mateably configured interdigitated fingers. 
     
     
       14. The document transfer system as described in claim 10, further comprising means for biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end. 
     
     
       15. The document transfer system as described in claim 10, further comprising means for resiliently biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end. 
     
     
       16. The document transfer system as described in claim 14, further comprising means for biasing the recirculation holder partition toward the recirculation holder first end. 
     
     
       17. The document transfer system as described in claim 14, further comprising means for resiliently biasing the recirculation holder partition toward the recirculation holder first end. 
     
     
       18. The document transfer system as described in claim 10 wherein i) the means for permitting movement of the output holder partition comprises a shaft extending from the output holder first end to beyond the output holder second end and a bearing set within the output holder partition mated with the shaft and   ii) the means for moving the sweeper partition comprises a shaft extending from the output holder first end to beyond the output holder second end, a bearing set within the sweeper partition mated with the shaft and means for pulling the sweeper partition along the shaft.   
     
     
       19. The document transfer system as described in claim 18 wherein i) the output holder shaft is rectangular and the means for orienting the output holder partition is comprised of a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the shaft,   ii) the sweeper shaft is rectangular and the means for orienting the sweeper partition is comprised of a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the sweeper partition shaft and   iii) the means for orienting the recirculation holder gate is a mechanism capable of vertically displacing the recirculation holder gate from an extended orientation above the recirculation holder to a retracted orientation below the recirculation holder.   
     
     
       20. A document transfer system for moving a cluster with a front and a back face of accumulated stacked documents from a receiving area at the first end of an output holder having first and second ends to a recirculation holder and subsequently accepting a next cluster of stacked documents into the receiving area for transfer to the recirculation holder, said system comprising: a) an output holder partition, means for biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end;   b) means for permitting movement of the output holder partition between the first and second ends of the output holder comprising a rectangular shaft extending from the output holder first end to beyond the output holder second end and a bearing set within the output holder partition mated with the shaft;   c) means for orienting the output holder partition in an extended orientation to contact the back face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder partition having an initial extended orientation at the output holder first end comprising a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the shaft;   d) a sweeper partition;   e) means for moving the sweeper partition between the first end of the output holder to at least the second end of the output holder comprising a rectangular shaft extending from the output holder first end to beyond the output holder second end, a bearing set within the sweeper partition mated with the shaft and means for pulling the sweeper partition along the shaft;   f) means for orienting the sweeper partition in an extended orientation to contact the front face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the sweeper partition having an initial retracted orientation at the output holder first end comprising a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the sweeper partition shaft;   g) an output holder gate at the second end of the output holder to stop the document cluster when the cluster is moved to the output holder second end, the output holder gate being mateably configured with the output holder partition to permit the extended output holder partition to pass the extended output holder gate unobstructed;   h) means for orienting the output holder gate in an extended orientation to contact the front face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder gate having an initial extended orientation comprising a mechanism capable of vertically displacing the recirculation holder gate from an extended orientation above the recirculation holder to a retracted orientation below the recirculation holder and;   i) a recirculation holder having a first and second end with the first end aligned and generally abutting the second end of the output holder, the recirculation holder further comprising a recirculation holder gate at the first end of the recirculation holder and a recirculation holder partition movable between the first and second ends of the recirculation holder with an initial partition position at the recirculation holder first end and the recirculation gate being mateably configured with the sweeper partition to permit the extended sweeper partition to pass the extended recirculation holder gate unobstructed.   
     
     
       21. A document transfer system for moving a cluster of stacked documents, each cluster having a front and a back face, from a receiving area at the first end of an output holder having first and second ends to a recirculation holder and subsequently accepting a next cluster of stacked documents into the receiving area for transfer to the input holder, said system comprising: a) an output holder partition;   b) means for permitting movement of the output holder partition between the first and second ends of the output holder;   c) means for orienting the output holder partition in an extended orientation to contact the back face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster, the output holder partition having an initial position at the output holder first end in an extended orientation   d) a sweeper partition;   e) means for moving the sweeper partition between the first end of the output holder to at least the second end of the output holder;   f) means for orienting the sweeper partition in an extended orientation to contact the front face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster, the sweeper partition having an initial position at the output holder first end in a retracted orientation;   g) a recirculation holder having a first and second end with the first end aligned and generally abutting the second end of the output holder wherein the recirculation holder is further comprised of a recirculation holder gate at the first end of the recirculation holder and a recirculation holder partition movable between the first and second ends of the recirculation holder with an initial partition position at the recirculation holder first end.   
     
     
       22. The document transfer system as described in claim 21 further comprising means for orienting the recirculation holder gate in an extended orientation to contact the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder gate having an initial extended orientation. 
     
     
       23. The document transfer system as described in claim 22 wherein the output holder partition and the recirculation holder partition are mateably configured to permit the output holder partition in an extended orientation to pass the recirculation holder partition unobstructed. 
     
     
       24. The document transfer system as described in claim 23 wherein the output holder partition and the recirculation holder partition are mateably configured through the partitions each having mateably configured interdigitated fingers. 
     
     
       25. The document transfer system as described in claim 23 wherein the sweeper partition and the recirculation holder gate are mateably configured to permit the sweeper partition in an extended orientation to pass the extended recirculation holder gate unobstructed. 
     
     
       26. The document transfer system as described in claim 25 wherein the sweeper partition and the recirculation holder gate are mateably configured through the partition and gate each having mateably configured interdigitated fingers. 
     
     
       27. The document transfer system as described in claim 22 wherein i) the sweeper partition and the output holder partition are both mateably with the recirculation holder gate to permit the sweeper partition and the output holder partition in extended orientations to pass the extended recirculation holder gate unobstructed and   ii) the output holder partition is also mateably configured with the recirculation holder partition to permit the output holder partition in an extended orientation to pass the recirculation holder partition unobstructed.   
     
     
       28. The document transfer system as described in claim 27 wherein the mateable configurations of the partitions and gates utilize interdigitated fingers in the partitions and gates. 
     
     
       29. The document transfer system as described in claim 22, further comprising means for biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end and means for biasing the recirculation holder partition toward the recirculation holder first end. 
     
     
       30. The document transfer system as described in claim 22, further comprising means for resiliently biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end and means for resiliently biasing the recirculation holder partition toward the recirculation holder first end. 
     
     
       31. The document transfer system as described in claim 22 wherein i) the means for permitting movement of the output holder partition comprises a rectangular shaft extending from the output holder first end to beyond the output holder second end and a bearing set within the output holder partition mated with the shaft;   ii) the means for orienting the output holder partition is comprised of a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the shaft;   iii) the means for moving the sweeper partition comprises a rectangular shaft extending from the output holder first end to beyond the output holder second end, a bearing set within the sweeper partition mated with the shaft and means for pulling the sweeper partition along the shaft;   iv) the means for orienting the sweeper partition is comprised of a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the sweeper partition shaft and;   v) the means for orienting the recirculation holder gate is a mechanism capable of vertically displacing the recirculation holder gate from an extended orientation above the recirculation holder to a retracted orientation below the recirculation holder.   
     
     
       32. A document transfer system for moving a cluster of stacked documents, each cluster having a front and a back face, from a receiving area at the first end of an output holder having first and second ends to a recirculation holder and subsequently accepting a next cluster of stacked documents into the receiving area for transfer to the input holder, said system comprising: a) an output holder partition, means for biasing the output holder partition toward the output holder first end;   b) means for permitting movement of the output holder partition between the first and second ends of the output holder comprising a rectangular shaft extending from the output holder first end to beyond the output holder second end and a bearing set within the output holder partition mated with the shaft;   c) means for orienting the output holder partition in an extended orientation to contact the back face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster, the output holder partition having an initial position at the output holder first end in an extended orientation comprising a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the shaft;   d) a sweeper partition;   e) means for moving the sweeper partition between the first end of the output holder to at least the second end of the output holder comprising a rectangular shaft extending from the output holder first end to beyond the output holder second end, a bearing set within the sweeper partition mated with the shaft and means for pulling the sweeper partition along the shaft;   f) means for orienting the sweeper partition in an extended orientation to contact the front face of the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster, the sweeper partition having an initial position at the output holder first end in a retracted orientation comprising a driver and a coupling from the driver to the shaft to rotate the sweeper partition shaft and;   g) a recirculation holder having a first and second end with the first end aligned and generally abutting the second end of the output holder wherein the recirculation holder is further comprised of a recirculation holder gate at the first end of the recirculation holder and a recirculation holder partition movable between the first and second ends of the recirculation holder, means for biasing the recirculation holder partition toward the holder first end with the partition having an initial partition position at the recirculation holder first end and with the recirculation holder partition and the output holder partition being mateably configured to permit the extended output partition to pass the recirculation holder partition unobstructed and furthermore with the recirculation holder gate and the sweeper partition being mateably configured to permit the extended sweeper partition to pass the extended recirculation holder gate unobstructed;   h) means for orienting the recirculation holder gate in an extended orientation to contact the cluster and in a retracted orientation to avoid contact with the cluster with the output holder gate having an initial extended orientation comprising a mechanism capable of vertically displacing the recirculation holder gate from an extended orientation above the recirculation holder to a retracted orientation below the recirculation holder.